Locking device for cash drawer and adding machine combination



Jan. 14, 1941. VR, Q SHOWERS 2,229,007

LOCKING DEVICE FOR CASH DRAWER AND ADDING MACHINE COMBINATION Filed D60. 14, 1938 Z0 Hq. .L 121g. '.3 Pll. Cl-v /5/q 1z0/33126 Z4 [33 INVENTOR ECH/Wa ffawf.

Patented Jan. 14, 1941 2,229,907

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCKIN G DEVICE FOR CASH DRAWER AND ADDING MACHINE COMBINATION Richard B. Showers, Shelbyville, Ind.

Application December 14, 1938, Serial No. 245,589

Claims. (Cl. 45-6) This invention relates to a combination device Fig. 4 is a plan view of the latch and T-slot embodying a registering machine such as an addstructure shown in Fig. 2. ing machine, or the like, and a cash drawer opera- Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a still further tively associated therewith, whereby operation of modied form of the invention. 5 the adding machine automatically controls the Fig. 6 is a top plan view of still a further modi- 5 cash drawer mechanism, as set forth in the prior ned form of the invention.

patents to Clifford Naden, No. 1,507,295, dated In the drawing I0 indicates the back wall struc- September 2, 1924, and Joseph R. Showers, No. ture of a cash drawer arrangement having an 1,569,043, dated January 12, 1926. opening I I adapted to receive a cash drawer hav- 'I'he chief object of the present invention is to ing the front wall I2, the side walls and the end 1o lockingly associate the two separable cooperating wall I3. Suitable coin partition forming ardevices together and prevent their unauthorized rangements may be provided as indicated at I4. or unnoticed disassociation at all times so that This cash drawer is slidably mounted between the the two cannot be disconnected thereby insuring top I5 and the base I6 of the cash drawer strucaccuracy in the cash accounting as reflected by the ture. The latter may be of openwork character 15 register total. Expressed in another way, the inand suitably closed as at Il. The cash drawer venticn is directed to the locking of the register is suitably and slidably supported by the Cabinet device to the cash drawer mechanism so that the DOrtOn Of the Structure. cash drawer mechanism cannot be operated with- It is nOrInallY Constrained t0 Open draWer DOS- out authority or registering or indicating on the tien by means Of the spring I3 bearing 0n the Cup 20 tape of the register device, for example, the fact member I9. The Cabinet Carries a bell 2i) and a that access has been had to the cash drawer and striker 2| is adapted t0 aetuate the Sarne uDOn then only in some of the forms of the invention the release of the mechanism to eiect cash drawer herein illustrated can the two mechanisms be release 0I' Opening This release is effected by disassoeiated, means not shown in the present drawing, but the 25 The broad combination disclosed in the aforesame Ineans 0r equValent means illustrated in said patents as illustrated thereby, includes, as tWO beferementioned Patents. stated, a register device and a cash drawer and Herein the t0n l5 0f the Cash drawer Cabinet is means cooperatively associating the two together DlOVded With feur recesses 22. tWO being herein whereby actuation of the register secures cash ndeated- These nestnly reCeVe the feet 23 30 drawer release or opening- This Cooperating carried by the base plate structure or base 24 of mechanism may be of many typos but a detached the register device, the register mechanism proper illustration or description of the same is not being suitably secured t0 prejeetng pOrtOrlS 25 deemed essential for an understanding of the 0f the base and the cover mechanism being suitpresent invention ably associated therewith and the base as may be 35 The Chief feature of the invention Consists in desired. Herein the base is shown provided with the locking association of the register and the cash an elongated S1011 26- drawer, the latter structure supporting and being Suda-bly Supported in the guides 2 On the 1OWer locked to the register by the present invention face ofthe top I5 of the cabinet is a rod or slide bar Other objects and features of the invention will 28' Sad Slide bar ha? one (ind extending down' 40 be pointed out more fully hereinafter. Waldly and the same 1s Consldrably tlongated as The fun nature of the invention Win be under indicated at 29. It normally lies behind the rear stood from the accompanying drawing and the .h or ear end I3 of the Cash drawer proper' following description and c1 aim s. e rod 8 extends forwardly and terminates near the opening I I 1n a downwardly extending, rela- 45 In the drawmg tively short end portion 30.

Flg' 1 15,3 longltudmil Sect-lona1 new through The top I5 is provided with an elongated slot 3l 0F19 embodlmenf of th? mvemlon the man1' por which registers with the slot 26 when the register tion of the register being omitted and the actuis properly positioned upon the top l5 of the Cash ating connection between the register and the drawer structure, 50 cash drawer being omitted for clearness. An upward extension 32 of the rod 29 includes Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and of a modian angular end 33. The end rides above the base ed form of the invention. plate 24. The vertical portion 32 rides in the Fig. 3 is an end view of the latch structure shown registering slots 26 and 3 I. The operation is as in Fig. 2. follows: 55

Ihe rod '28 is normaliy positioned with the portion 32 adjacent the right hand portion or side wall of the slots 3i and 25. For the same, the drawer structure proper must be in open relation. The register is then properly positioned on the cash drawer cabinet. Then when the drawer is closed, the rear wall of the rear end I3 of the drawer engages the depending portion 29 of the rod 28 and moves the rod rearwardly which in turn moves the upright portion 32 from the right hand Y portion of the registering slots 2G and 3| to the left hand portion thereof and in so doing the angular portion 33 moves rearwardly or to the left and thus overlies the base plate 24, thereby lockingly associating the register to the cash drawer structure. The parts are then positioned as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Repeated actuation of the register will release the cash drawer proper and will on the register tape indicate the various amounts which the operator designates on the register. In this manner the register total and the additional cash in the cash drawer should coincide. In this manner also the register cannot be moved relative to the drawer so that an operator can actuate the cash drawer releasing mechanism, not shown, without recording some indication on the register tape.

When it is desired to separate the register from the cash drawer for repair purposes or for use of the register for statement work, or the like, separate and apart from cash drawer operation, then the register is actuated to release the cash drawer. With the cash drawer moved to the right a suicient distance to position the portion lil forwardly of the front face of the cash drawer so that the hand of the operator may be inserted in the drawer behind the change compartment forming arrangement it, the portion 3Q may be engaged by the fingers and moved to the right. This then moves the member 32 with its angular extension 33 to the right. Thereupon the register may be elevated from its predetermined cabinet position because then the angular portion 33 can pass downwardly through the opening 26 as the register, including its base 25;, is elevated vertically. This drawer release is indicated on the tape.

When the register is repositioned for cash drawer operation, if the cash drawer has not been utilized in the interim, the cash drawer is closed and in the closing movement, the rear wall i3 engages the arm 29 which moves the angular portion S53 so it overlies the register base plate 24. This automatically locks the register to the cash drawer structure. In the event the cash drawer has been closed following separation of the register therefrom, the cash drawer must be opened by releasing the cash drawer manually .prior to the positioning of the register thereon. Then the member 33 must be moved forwardly or to the right as shown in Fig. l to permit the register to loe properly located. The register is 'then located. The cash drawer is then closed. This positions portion 33 over the base 24 and locks the register to the cash drawer structure. This condition will be maintained throughout cash drawer and registery operation until it is desired to disconnect the same in the manner previously described.

Reference will be had now to Figs. 2 to 4, inelusive, wherein a modied form of the invention is illustrated. In this form of the invention the latch structure is illustrated as being arranged to normally lock the register to the cash drawer structure at all times that the cash drawer is closed and opening movement of the cash drawer obtained as a result of register operation which, as

stated, is indicated suitably on the register tape, will automatically condition the latch so that the register may be removed or disconnected from the cash drawer structure. It will be remembered that the slot 3i and slot 2@ illustrated in Fig. l are of elongated character.

In the present' form of the invention, there is provided a slot i3! in the cover or top H5 of the cash drawer structure. This slot is suitably relieved as at iSia. The register base IM is also slotted as at B25. As shown clearly in Fig. 4, the slot I 26 includes two lateral extensions Hita and if desired, the slot ISI may be similarly formed but the same is not necessary, as will hereinafter be pointed out.

A Z-shaped locking member includes a central pivotal portion H23 that is p-ivotally supported by the midporticn of the staple i2? suitably secured to the underface of the top H5 of the drawer structure. The latch member includes the angularly depending end portion 29. It also includes the upwardly projecting portion 32 and the upper free end thereof is laterally enlarged in opposite directions indicated at The operation is as follows:

In the initial mounting of the structure the latch is inserted in the opening iti in the event it does not have wing enlargements as; previously mentioned. Then the staple l2? is secured to the undcrface of the top i E5 of the cash drawer structure while the drawer is removed and before the base closure i il is applied to the cash drawer structure. Following the application of the base closure iii, the register with its base plate 24 is mounted. upon the cash drawer structure in predetermined position so as to secure cash drawer release and perimt cash drawer opening by means of the spring structure, not shown, upon register actuation, which actuation is indicated on the register tape. The latch structure then is in the position shown by the dotted linesee Fig. 2.

This placing of the register may be readily effected because the two wings E33 of the T-shaped latch readily pass through the slot lateral enlargements |2605r in the base structure i215. When the cash drawer is closed, the rear face of the rear end H3 of the cash drawer proper engages the depending member H29 and moves it from the dotted line position, shown in Fig. 2, into the full line position. This tilts the latch clockwisesee Fig. 2--and throws the two lateral portions i3@ forwardly so that they overlie the top of the base lIZfl at the narrow portion of the slot 25, as shown in Fig. 4. This loclzs the register to the cash drawer structure at all times that the drawer is not open. It will be noted this locking arrangement locks and unlocks at each operation of the drawer, but that each operation of the drawer is indicated on the register tape. Gravity normally constrains the latch shown in Figs. 2 to* 4, inclusive, into releasing position. The drawer maintains the latch in register locking position. The drawer closing insures the locking action and to this extent is identical to the operation of the form of the invention shown in Fig. l.

In Fig. l, however, it will be remembered the release movement must be manually effected and furthermore the latch is not automatically released at each operation of the register and accompanyng drawer opening movement and, therefore, not cyclically operable with drawer operation for each operation of the drawer.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention. Herein 2i5 indicates the top of the cash drawer structure and the same includes a notch or slot therein indicated by the numeral 23|. The register is indicated by the numeral 233 and has the feet 223 seatable in recesses, not shown in the top of the cash drawer structure and said feet 223 may be of felt, or rubber pads, and the like.

The register mounts a key operable lock 2N. It carries a casing concealed arm 232 with a latch portion 233. When the lock is properly actuated the arm 232 moves downwardly into slot 23| and the latch portion 233 is positioned beneath a catch or locking member 221 which is a pin eX- tending across the slot 23|. It will be apparent that when the feet structure 223 is seated in the recesses 222 and the lock 253| is properly actuated, the register is locked to the cash drawer structure and the register cannot be moved in any direction with reference to said cabinet. This is a lock structure which is manually operated to lock and requires manual operation to unlock. There is no automatic action involved and, therefore, there is no register action or recording required because only the authorized holder of the key for the lock can disconnect or disassociate the two structures.

Fig. 6 illustrates a further modified form of the invention which is of similar character. In this instance, however, a lock 33| of key operable type, is mounted with the key receiving portion exposed by the upper surface of the cash drawer top 3|5. The lock has a bolt portion 3D3 which is shown in projected position. It abuts the end of the latch member 323 slidably supported in the members 321 carried by the underface of the top SI5. A vertically extending portion 332 at its upper end terrrn'nates in a rearwardly directed portion Portion 332 extends upwardly through registering openings indicated by the numerals 32%` and 33| in the top 3| 5 and the register base 324.

A spring structure 333 normally constrains the sliding bolt or latch member toward the released or unlocked position. It is maintained in the locking position by the bolt 333 of the lock 39|. In this form of the invention the lock is manually controlled for locking and unlocking, al-

though the actual unlocking movement is spring controlled. In this respect the unlocking movement is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein the tiltable latch therein disclosed is normally constrained by gravity into the non-locking position. It may, if desired, be positively constrained in that position by suitable spring means. In the present form of the invention, however, positive means must be provided as indicated at 350.

It will also be quite obvious that whenever desired, the swinging or tiltable lock type structure shown in Fig. 5 may be reversely arranged so that actuation of the lock will cause an arm carried thereby, which lock can be carried by the cash drawer structure, to move upwardly through a siot in the base of the register and engage an anchor or catch portion of appropriate character positioned in the path of said movable latch member and carried by the register in concealed relation.

It also will be obvious that the slidable latch illustrated in Fig. 6 may be reversely positioned with respect to the two interlocked parts. As stated, the forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 do not require cash drawer operation to effect locking or unlocking action but do require key lock or equivalent lock actuation.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawing and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. Mechanism for locking a calculating device over a cash till, said till comprising a cabinet and a drawer slidable therewithin, the top panel of said cabinet having an aperture in register with a similar aperture in the base of said device, said mechanism including a rod-like member slidably supported within said cabinet having a downwardly bent end portion adapted to be engaged by the rear wall of said drawer, and a locking element secured to said rod-like member and extending upwardly through the registering apertures aforementioned, said element being adapted to lock with the base of the calculating device when said drawer is closed to engage the downwardly bent end portion of said rod-like member.

2. Mechanism for locking a calculating device over a cash till, said till comprising a cabinet and a drawer slidable therewithin, the top panel of said cabinet having an aperture in register with a similar aperture in the base of said device, said mechanism including a latch pivoted to the, bottom face of the top panel of said cabinet having a downwardly extending portion adapted to be engaged by the rear wall of said drawer and an upwardly extending portion passing through the registering apertures aforementioned, said latch being swung to lock with the base of the calculating device upon closure of said drawer and to inoperative position by the release thereof.

3. Mechanism for locking a calculating device over a cash till, said till comprising a cabinet and a drawer slidable therewithin, the top panel of said cabinet having an aperture in register with a similar aperture in the base of said device, said mechanism including a latch member movably supported within said cabinet, said member having a downwardly extending projection and an upwardly extending projection, said downwardly extending projection being adapted to be engaged by the rear Wall of said drawer upon closure thereof, said upwardly extending projection passing through the registering apertures aforementioned to lock with the base of the calculating device when said downwardly extending projection is engaged by said drawer.

4. Means for locking 4a calculating device over a cash till, said till comprising a cabinet and a drawer slidable therewithin, including a latch member movably supported within said cabinet, said member having a projection adapted to be engaged by said drawer upon closure thereof and a second projection adapted to lock with the base of said calculating device when said first-mentioned projection is engaged by said drawer.

5. Mechanism for locking a calculating device over a cash till, said till comprising a cabinet and a drawer slidable therewithin, including a latch member movably supported by said cabinet, said element being provided with means engageable by said drawer upon closure thereof and with means locking with the base of said calculating device when said rst-mentioned means is engaged by said drawer.

RICHARD B. SHOWERS. 

